DECATUR -- For the Decatur Bulldog girls' fast-pitch softball team, the season ended on a bitter-sweet note.
The Bulldogs traveled to Eureka Springs to take on the Highlanders at home in the first round of the fast-pitch softball district tournament. The Lady Dogs came out strong, quickly taking the lead and never letting go. The Highlanders tried to play catch up, but it was not to be as the Bulldogs took the game, 29 to 17.
However, with the spring sporting events, some players withdrew due to conflicts, which left the Lady Dogs without enough players to continue, forcing Bill Niven, girls' softball coach, to withdraw from the tournament.
"We had to bypass the rest of the district tournament because we didn't have enough girls to participate," Niven stated. "A lot of things (are) going on in the springtime and some things you can't help. We ask a lot of out of kids and try to stretch them in a lot of directions, so something had to give."
The softball season was full of ups and downs. Most of the games had to be canceled because of weather or lack of participation in other softball programs in the district.
However, the Bulldogs ended the season the same way they began, with a victory. If there ever was a way to finish a season, a 12-run victory is it.
"The girls did a good job this season," Niven said. "You had a core of kids that really wanted to be there and play softball. Those are the ones that improve and those are the ones that are a joy to work with," he said.
Sports on 05/07/2014